SIOUX FALLS – For the third straight year, the “8 in 48” Claire Donaldson Short Play Festival will be held at the Edith Mortenson Center Theatre on the campus of Augustana College.

The Short Play Festival begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 13. The event is hosted by Augustana Theatre and The Great Plains Dramatist Exchange.

The “8 in 48” features eight previously un-produced 10-minute plays. Claire Donaldson was a 2000 Augustana College graduate passionate about the art of playwriting. The festival was founded in her honor.

The “8 in 48” received more than 300 entries from all over the world. The slate of winning scripts includes: Wondrous by Jami Brandli of Los Angeles, Calif.; A Walk in the Ocean by Mark Harvey Levine of Pasadena, Calif.; Not Funny by Christopher Lockheardt of Andover, Mass.; Like by James McLindon of Northampton, Mass.; Whodinnint by Tom Mularz of Studio City, Calif.; Homeland Security by Mary Steelsmith of Los Angeles, Calif.; Turtle Beach by Aoise Stratford of Ithaca, N.Y.; and Orville and Wilbur Discuss Film Noir by John Weagly of Chicago, Ill.

This “8 in 48” Claire Donaldson Short Play Festival also showcases the talent of actors, directors and Augustana alumni. The Festival artists mount the original short plays (from casting to rehearsal to production) in a total of 48 hours. This approach is modeled after the 24-Hour Play Festival originated by New York theatre artist, Tina Fallon.

Debuting in 2005, the Festival was so successful that Augustana now has plans to host it every other year. This is the third year the event has been held.

Rehearsals begin September 12. Auditions and volunteer sign up is at 3:00 p.m. Public performance of the scripts is at 7:30 p.m. on September 13 on the main stage of the Edith Mortenson Center. Everyone is welcome to participate and attend.

Tickets are free, but a $5 donation is suggested to help establish a scholarship in Claire Donaldson’s name.

Reservations will not be taken for this event.
 

Contact: Bruce Conley
Director of News Information
Phone: (605) 274-5526
Fax: (605) 274-4903